Cagliari-Fiorentina 1-2: Gosens and Beltran, three vital points for the European sprint

Florence, 23 April 2025 - Three very important points, in an away match that started badly and continued even worse. Fiorentina he was able to adapt to all the problems he had in Sardinia and in the end he took away three deserved points with the goals of Goossens e Beltran. Palladino must do without Kean and without his centre forward he designs a team with Beltran and Gudmundsson in attack. The starting lineup sees only confirmations from the day before with De Gea in goal; Pongracic, Marí and Ranieri in defence; Dodo and Gosens on the wings with Fagioli, Cataldi and Mandragora in midfield.

Fiorentina's start is a nightmare. Cagliari is in rhythm from the first seconds and the defense of the lilies is shaky from the start. In the 7th minute the goal of the home team arrives. Luvumbo puts a ball in the center that De Gea slaps right at Piccoli. The rossoblu center forward controls with a knee, moves the ball towards the center of the area and pushes it into the goal. Minutes of confusion for Palladino's team that risks conceding another goal in the 12th minute. Zortea's shot from outside the area hits the post with De Gea immobile. Fiorentina starts playing three minutes later. In the 15th minute they equalize the score of the woodwork with a free kick from Mandrake who from thirty meters hits the inside post with Caprile beaten. An episode that has the merit of waking up the lilies, who from then on start to grind out play and occasions. At 27' great personal action by Gudmundsson, who sows panic in the three-quarter line, enters the area and forces Caprile to make a great save. At 35' he tries Mandrake (high ball from the edge of the area) after the 'usual' offensive foray by Pongracic. Goal in the air that promptly arrives (36'). Mandragora's delightful opening for Gosens, who with a delicate touch from the outside puts the ball into the far corner. At 39' the muscle injury that takes the former Mina off the field, replaced by Palomino. At the end of the half an episode worthy of slow motion. The referee marinelli awards a penalty to Cagliari for an alleged foul by Pongracic on Luvumbo. The referee is fooled by the dynamics, but there is no foul. Recalled to the VAR by Meraviglia, he retraces his steps.

The second half starts well for Fiorentina. In the 48th minute the Viola they take the lead with a nice action. Gudmundsson he moves well in the three-quarter line and passes to Dodo, a first-time cross into the centre of the area, where Beltran heads it in and send the ball in the back of the net. Many substitutions break up the game, Richardson and Parisi enter for Fiorentina in place of Fagioli and Gosens. Not much happens until the 74th minute, when Marin with a shot from outside the area forces De Gea to make a great save. More substitutions: Mandragora and Ranieri leave, Folorunsho and Comuzzo enter. Among the whistles of the home crowd, Zaniolo also enters for Palladino's last slot (85'). The final is a forcing by Cagliari that produces no results. The crowd catches Zaniolo (yellow card) who leaves the field in a rage. But the Viola celebrate three key points in the race for Europe.

scoreboard

CAGLIARI-FIORENTINA 1-2

Cagliari (4-2-3-1): Caprile; Augello, Luperto, Mina (40' pt Palomino), Zappa; Adopo (22' st Marin), Prati (22' st Makoumbou); Luvumbo, Viola (14' st Gaetano), Zortea (22' st Coman); Piccoli. Coach Nicola

Fiorentina (3-5-2): of Gea; Pongracic, Pablo Marì, Ranieri (35' st Ranieri); Dodô, Mandragora (36' st Folorunsho), Cataldi, Fagioli (18' st Richardson), Gosens (18' st Parisi); Gudmundsson, Beltran (41' st Zaniolo). Coach Palladino

Referee: Livio Marinelli of Tivoli

Scorers: 7' pt Piccoli (C), 36' pt Gosens (F), 3' st Beltran (F)

Ammonites: 20' st Palomino (C), 34' st Piccoli (C), 39' st Parisi (F), 45' st +6 Zaniolo (F)